Mission Statement

French faculty seek to give graduate students a working knowledge of French and knowledge of the place of French in the world.

Program Information

The Master of Arts in French, Language and Literature requires 30 hours of academic work at the graduate level.

It is possible to complete this program as part of a joint B.A/M.A. program in French. Students may consult with the French advisor to take courses in place of the required courses listed below. Students must complete a minimum of 24 hours at the University of Louisville. It is recommended that students take FRE 611 during their first semester in the program and FRE 699 during their last semester in the program.

As part of their graduate program, students are required to spend at least one month in a French-speaking country. Thanks to the Modern Languages Fund, it is possible for the Department of Classical and Modern Languages to assist students financially so as to make a one-month stay in a French-speaking country a reality. The University of Louisville has a long-standing Work-Exchange Program with the city of Montpellier, France, where students spend a month each summer. As with any requirement, after consultation with the French advisor, it may be possible to find an appropriate substitution for this requirement.

Admission Procedures

Admission is on a rotating basis. Students must submit the following: application to graduate school and application fee, transcripts from all colleges/universities where undergraduate and/or graduate credit was earned, two letters of recommendation and GRE exam scores. 

Students may begin the program in Fall (preferably), Spring or Summer.

 MA program in French

Specific courses required of all students:
        French 611 (offered Fall only), students are advised to complete this course at the earliest possible moment of their graduate career
        French 699 (offered Fall and Spring), students should NOT take this course before their final semester in the MA program.

French 611 and 699 are required whether student follows thesis or non-thesis option.

Students choosing the non-thesis option will take a minimum of eight (8) courses with at least one course from each of the following rubrics (minimum 30 credits).

Students choosing the thesis option take a minimum of six (6) courses with at least one course from each rubric and complete between three and six (3-6) hours of thesis credit (French 690) (minimum 30 credits).

Language skills:
    French 600, Stylistics
    French 523, Advanced Skills,  if appropriate
    approved elective

  Linguistics:
    French 522, Phonetics
    French 524, Translation
    French 601, Studies in Linguistics
    approved elective

Culture:
    French 531, Special Topics
    French 552 or alternate study-abroad program as approved by the Graduate Director
    French 602, Studies in Culture
    approved elective

Media:
    French 603, Studies in Media
    approved elective   

Literature:
    French 604, Studies in Literature
    approved elective

French 531, 561, 562, 670, and 680 are course numbers used for electives in the French program.

With permission of the Graduate Director, students may complete the degree with appropriate course work in other disciplines.

Accelerated BA/MA Program

Students who wish to pursue an accelerated non-thesis Master’s Degree will be allowed to apply up to nine (9) hours of undergraduate coursework taken for graduate credit. An additional twenty-one (21) hours of graduate coursework taken in addition will constitute the minimum number of credit hours for obtaining the non-thesis Master’s in the accelerated program. The guidelines for this combined program are as follows:

1. Application forms are available in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages office (Humanities 326) or from the French Advisor. It is strongly recommended that at least one of the supporting letters submitted with the application be from a French faculty member.
2. Students must (A) apply for admission to this program no later than the end of the Junior year (a total of 90 degree applicable hours) and, (B) must have completed French 320, 321, 322 with grades of “B” or better.
3. Application will be reviewed by the French faculty. A 3.35 overall grade point average and acceptable test scores on the GRE will be required for admission to the program.
4. Students may take a maximum of nine (9) hours for graduate credit, which will also apply to the requirements for the baccalaureate degree in French. The nine hours must be from the following list: FRE 523, 524, 531, and 552.
5. Students who enroll in the accelerated program will be non-thesis students and must adhere to all policies pertaining to Graduate Students in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages.